National Education Policy 2020: All You Need To Know About NEP 2020 For Schools

Technology has advanced to another level altogether and to achieve sustainable development & create more job opportunities for students by allowing them to learn & sharpen their skill sets, transforming the education system is crucial.

Considering the same, the Union Cabinet has given a go-ahead to the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. NEP serves a clear roadmap for achieving excellence, innovation & quality education in the Indian educational system.

Developed after taking consultation from top-class stakeholders while keeping the suggestions of general people in the loop, the new policy aims at empowering the current education system with ‘100 % youth and adult literacy rate’ & making India a 'global knowledge superpower'.

Highlights of National Education Policy 2020:

Universal Access:

The NEP 2020 aims to ensure universal access to school education, from preschool to secondary level, with the introduction of several provisions that prioritize inclusivity and equity in education. These provisions include:

• Innovative Education Centers: The policy promotes the establishment of innovative education centers to provide high-quality education to all students, especially those in disadvantaged areas.
• Good Infrastructure Support: The NEP 2020 emphasizes the provision of good infrastructure support, including well-equipped classrooms and laboratories, to ensure an optimal learning environment for students.
• Tracking Student Progress: The policy focuses on tracking student progress based on learning levels to ensure that every student is able to achieve basic literacy and numeracy skills by grade 3.
• Multiple Modes of Learning: The NEP 2020 advocates for a flexible and multi-modal approach to learning that includes both formal and informal modes of education.
• Experienced Faculty Members: The policy encourages the recruitment of experienced and well-trained faculty members to ensure high-quality teaching and learning experiences for students.
• Trained Counselors: The NEP 2020 also emphasizes the need for trained counselors in schools to provide emotional and mental health support to students.
• Open Learning: The policy offers the option for open learning for students studying in classes 3, 5, and 8 through State Open Schools, NIOS, and vocational courses. This is aimed at bringing nearly 2 crore out-of-school children back to mainstream education.

The overarching agenda behind these provisions is to ensure that every student has equal opportunities to access quality education, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographic location.

This will not only improve learning outcomes but also contribute to the overall development of individuals and the country as a whole.

‘10+2’ Pattern Replaced By ‘5+3+3+4’

The popular pattern of school education will be replaced with a unique “5+3+3+4” curricular structure with respect to different age groups of kids ranging from– 3 years - 8 years, 8 years -11 years, 11-14, and 14 years -18 years.

Today, students start acquiring formal education from the age of 3 by enrolling in play school programs. After the completion of play school education, the children transition to kindergarten 1 & 2 followed by 12 years long secondary education & higher education programs.

The new structure – breaks down the same structure into stages like foundational stage 3-8 years, preparatory stage 8-11 years, middle stage 11-14 years & secondary stage 14-18 years of age.

This profound structure will bring the age group of 3-6 years under the school curriculum.

So, the new educational schooling umbrella will consist of 12 years of schooling life along with 3 years of pre-schooling or ‘Anganwadi’.

Maximizing Foundational Literacy And Numeracy

One of the main elements of the NEP 2020 is Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.

With a goal of providing Class 3 students with universal literacy and numeracy by 2026–2027, the NIPUN–Bharat initiative was introduced in 2021.

Under the auspices of the Centrally Supported Scheme of Samagra Shiksha, a five-tier implementation system was to be established at the National, State, District, Block, and School levels in each State and UT.

Arguments in favor of FLN claim that these skills serve as a foundation and are a crucial requirement for all subsequent education and lifetime learning. These skills include the ability to read, write, and execute basic mathematical operations.

School Curricular And Pedagogy

The NEP 2020 aims to provide a holistic and flexible learning experience to students by minimizing the school curriculum content and focusing on 21st-century skills such as analytical and critical thinking, experiential learning, and creativity.

The policy promotes choice-based flexible learning facilities where students can choose subjects of their interest, leading to the development of well-rounded individuals with a diverse skill set.

Unlike the current educational system, there will be no rigid separation between fields like arts and science, curricular and extracurricular activities, and everything a student does will be counted.

The NEP 2020 also introduces vocational education consisting of internships from the 6th grade. This will enable students to gain practical experience in different industries and professions, enhancing their employability and preparing them for the future workforce.

In addition, the policy advocates for the use of innovative and experiential pedagogies to enhance the learning experience of students. This includes the use of technology, peer learning, and collaborative projects to create a more engaging and interactive learning environment.

Power Of Language & Multilingualism

The NEP 2020 is not restricted to education in the ‘English’ language!

It openly favors education in the mother tongue/regional/local language. In addition to this, one of the oldest & ancient languages ‘Sanskrit’ is to be promoted as well.

Students are free to take up the Sanskrit language in schools as well as during their higher education. Several other traditional literatures of India & classical languages will also be offered to students. No specific language will be forcefully imposed.

The New Assessment Reforms

Assessment plays a key role in helping teachers scrutinize & evaluate the skills & knowledge of students. A maximum of two Board Examinations could be administered within any given school year, one for the main examination and one for improvement if required.

The National Assessment Centre PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic development), which would establish standards and prescribe norms to improve the educational system, is envisioned in the NEP 2020, which recognizes the need for assessment reform.

To assist with the center's setup, the government has recruited international consultants. It is anticipated to transform education, which is based on research, theory, and practice.

Several assessment innovations must be incorporated within the system for PARAKH to live up to its promises. For instance, concept maps, a visual representation of the relationships between the ideas taught, are a fun approach to evaluating the concepts learned. Students can be given an incomplete idea map by the teacher to complete.

Another innovation is the ability of students to organize and store learning materials in their e-portfolios, including written assignments, photos, and videos, to reflect on their educational experiences.

Funds To Meet The Needs Of Students

The NEP 2020 recognizes the need for inclusive education and has introduced measures to ensure that children belonging to underprivileged backgrounds and those with special abilities have access to quality education.

The policy will set up a ‘Gender Inclusion Fund’ & ‘Special Education Zone’ for children belonging to unprivileged backgrounds & with special abilities. They will be encouraged to participate in regular school processes right from foundational programs to higher Ed.

These funds will be used to provide financial assistance to schools that admit children from marginalized communities, ensuring that they receive an equal opportunity to participate in regular school processes from foundational programs to higher education.

Educators will run exclusive programs to help them get trained; initiate various resource centers & assistive technology-based tools & devices to simplify & ease their learning journey.

Teacher Training

The NEP 2020 emphasizes the need for continuous professional development of teachers. The policy advocates the use of technology for teacher training and mentoring. The policy places a strong emphasis on the value of excellent teacher preparation.

To encourage brilliant and creative young minds to pursue teaching as a career, it seeks to launch a number of systemic reforms.

The policy aims to set the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST), which will govern all areas of teacher career management, professional development initiatives, pay hikes, etc.,

How MasterSoft Helps You to Get Ready for NEP 2020?

With the introduction of NEP 2020, schools face the need to adapt their processes to align with the new educational framework. As a pioneer of ERP solutions, MasterSoft understands the challenges schools face in aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 policy.

Listed below are the ERP systems which can be tailored to empower schools to streamline administrative tasks, improve communication, and efficiently manage academic and non-academic activities:

Learning Management Systems (LMS):

• MasterSoft's Learning Management System plays a key role in helping schools prepare for NEP 2020. With features like assessments, content management, and progress tracking, the LMS facilitates multidisciplinary learning and critical thinking.
• It enables personalized learning paths, collaborative learning, and simplifies administrative tasks, aligning school goals with NEP's vision.
• By leveraging MasterSoft's LMS, schools can seamlessly implement NEP's guidelines, paving the way for a dynamic learning environment.

Student Information Systems (SIS):

• MasterSoft's Student Information System is instrumental in guiding schools to become NEP-ready. The SIS module efficiently manages student data, including attendance, admissions, grades, and performance reports, simplifying administrative tasks.
• With features like performance tracking and academic planning, the SIS enables schools to adhere to NEP’s guidelines on holistic education and skill development.
• It further empowers schools to generate comprehensive reports, analyze student progress, and make data-driven decisions.
• By employing MasterSoft's SIS, schools can easily adapt to NEP's vision and ensure a student-centric approach to education.

Online Examination Systems:

• MasterSoft's cutting-edge Online Examination System is the key to preparing schools for NEP 2020's digital assessment needs. With this software, schools can conduct online exams safely and securely, ensuring a seamless transition to digital assessments as per NEP guidelines.
• The system enables automated evaluation, flexible question paper creation, and instant result generation, saving time for teachers and simplifying the examination process.
• Schools can customize the system to align with NEP's emphasis on competency-based evaluations, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• By using MasterSoft's Online Examination System, schools can effectively embrace NEP's vision for modern assessment methods and provide a technologically advanced examination experience for students.

With the help of MasterSoft's advanced ERP solutions, schools can effectively embrace the changes brought about by NEP 2020 and ensure a smooth transition into the modern era of education.

Best Strategies To Raise The Bar Of Education Using School ERP

The NEP 2020 places a strong emphasis on the value of using technology to revolutionize the Indian educational system. By reducing administrative procedures and enhancing instruction, school ERP is a solution that can assist institutions in achieving this goal.

School ERP frees teachers and administrators to concentrate on more crucial duties, such as curriculum preparation and student engagement, as described in the NEP, by automating administrative tasks.

Another benefit of School ERP is that it offers real-time information on student performance, which is a key component of the NEP. By using this information, teachers can pinpoint areas in which their students could be having difficulty and offer individualized assistance.

Along with supporting the NEP's objective of including parents in the educational process, it can also assist parents to keep up with their child's progress.

Besides complementing the rules of NEP 2020, school ERP campus software can prove to be a boon for schools that aim to conquer the virtual education landscape within a short time.